A world-class centre for healthcare on its way, says hospital boss

Amanda Devlin

A new era – and name – has been prescribed for Milton Keynes Hospital as it takes first steps to become a “world class” centre for teaching.

From tomorrow, the hospital will officially be known as Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Students will arrive on wards in May and, by the beginning of 2017, a medical school will have been built.

Joe Harrison, chief executive, said: “Our change to university hospital status is a milestone in the 30-year history of Milton Keynes Hospital, and also an important symbol of our commitment to developing the hospital into a world class centre for healthcare, teaching and research.”

And the good news doesn’t stop there as the hospital is expected to win a £178million bid later this year to secure its future for the next 20 years.

A total of 30 extra doctors will have joined the team by the end of 2016 thanks to the hospital’s new status.

“We are playing a part in creating the future’s health service.”

Joe Harrison, chief executive of Milton Keynes Hospital

Mr Harrison added: “It is a fantastic development which is attracting staff to our hospital.

“Not only that, but we are playing a part in creating the future’s health service with our training.

“And we are going to have more doctors on site across seven days, which can only mean better care for our patients and improving standards across our hospital. We are moving into a completely new era.”

Mr Harrison went on to defend the trust’s new name, which came under attack on social media for being “too long”.

Questions were also raised about the cost of new signage.

He said: “I think we should be proud of our name and that we are becoming a teaching hospital.

“It is an interesting concern when it is such positive news.

“We are changing our main external signage as part of our planned build programme – at a cost of less than £2,000.

“There is no cost for changing any of our templates as they are all electronic and any printed stock will be replaced as and when it runs out.”